Literally just got this in my email so feel free to use the code. Not sure if it’s one time use or not.
https://youtu.be/uOvGq8N9tFU
Dame’s 2018 Playoff Performance đ Oftentimes it’s better to remember the poor performances to identify weaknesses and motivate ourselves to be better than to just think everything is fantastic. The same goes for sneakers.
And sure enough Dame did the same
I really loved playing in the Dame 4 on clean floors or when freshly wiped but guess what, they fixed it on the 5. I don’t think the Dame 5 has quite the fun factor of the 4 but it’s still a great shoe. If you liked the Marquee Boost or Harden V3, these will feel very familiar.
Pros: traction, low to the ground and balanced cushioning, fit, stability, containment, flexible in the right places
Cons: some players may want more cushioning? đ¤ˇđťââď¸
Sizing Advice: half size down for everyone unless you’re putting a thicker insole in or you have super wide feet
Buying Advice: $115 retail which isn’t bad but isn’t great. Sign up on Adidas’ Creator Club and get discounts right away. $90 or less is fair, bottom around $50-60 as usual.. which will probably come fairly fast. Looks matter Adidas
Weight
15.5 ounces which is about average for an Adidas mid. The Dame 4 weighed 14 ounces btw.
Traction
Youâre killing me Adidas..if you put these on the 4 and youâd have sexy shoes with great traction. At least Adidas has simplified its story telling and pretty much put herringbone on everything this past year. I found these worked great when clean or freshly wiped with some occasional wiping on dusty floors. Very similar in design to the Marquee Boost/Harden etc..
Slightly wider spacing and about the same width teeth and rubber firmness. The grooves could sharper and the rubber could be softer but overall these work great. I found they got better with wear as the rubber softened up.
Great job Adidas!
Cushioning
The Dame line has gotten slightly lower year over year and these are the lowest of them all. If you enjoy court feel but want a balanced cushioning set up with some bounce back these are for you. These are not quite as bouncy or fun feeling as previous Dames but they aren’t brickish like the Harden BE2 or Curry 6/5 or Havoc. It’s just a nice blend of court feel and impact protection. Think Dame 4 but a tad lower.
Why does the Bounce have less bounce?
Part of the reason is that there is just less foam volume and the fact the use a thinner insole now versus the Dame 2.
Bottom is the Dame 2 insole and it’s at least double the thickness of the 5
Like the Harden, thinner cushioning can still feel pretty good if you make some changes like Adidas did with the Harden V3.
Foam strobel rather than fiberboard like the Dame 2 and 4 used.
Switching to foam allows the wearer to feel that foam just a little more since the foam strobel is softer and more flexible than a typical fiberboard so it kind of evens things out. As I have said before, Boost and Bounce need more volume than something like Zoom. I still really like the cushioning on the Dame 5 but I don’t think it has the comfort of the Dame 2 which wowed me out of the box. This is more tuned for court feel than previous models by a millimeters or two.
If you want a plusher ride like the Rose 6 or youâll probably want to look elsewhere but if you want a nice balanced set up, the Dame 5 has you covered
Fit
These run long, longer than any of the Dames (not as long as the Marquee)so Iâd advise half a size down for everyone but the maybe widest of wide footers. I went true to size and while they ran long, I had no issues with the fit since these are a mid (nice try adidas these arenât lows).
*side note I swapped out the insole from the Dame 2 into the 5 and you can stay true to size if you’re planning on swapping insoles. This is one reason why it feels so long*
No heel slip or side to side movement out of the box and no banging of the toe since the laces hold your foot down and back like any good shoe should.
If you like heel pillows, Adidas took it to another level with the Dame 5’s internal pod system. Does it work better then a standard interior ? Probably not but it works so I can’t complain. And that thing in the front, it’s called a tongue!
Not really much to talk about here, it just fits. Tie your laces, get on the court, and go.
Nice job Adidas!
Materials
Mesh and some suede or synthetic suede. Not bad I guess if youâre looking for value. On par with the Jordan 33 materials at least.
Support and stability
Do these look like lows to you?
No issues with support but these are not lows folks, itâs cut as almost high as the Kobe I. But the collar is flexible just like the Kobe.
With this much flexibility, support will come from the great fit and internal heel counter. No issues here.
Midfoot Support
Although this looks like my “stick my shoe in the pocket test”, it only bends in the forefoot and toe which is great because you want most of stiffness midfoot and back. I’m sure there is a decent internal shank and it’s just the right amount of flexibility like most Dames (the 3 was overly stiff imo)
Arch support is great. Thanks for holding up my flat feet
Stability is excellent with a low to the ground set up and very wide outsole similar to the Marquee Boost.
Well done Adidas!
Containment
Did the Donald design this shoe?
Banking barrier wheeww how innovative. At least it works but I’m pretty sure consumers would prefer not to see such an eyesore..including me. The previous models didn’t have this barrier and worked just as well.
The banking barrier’s in your face look at me look is why I went with the all black. This barrier is made of tpu unlike the Ariana special aka the N3XT.
No issues here!
Conclusion
Dame Dolla doesnât mess around. No frills, not too pricey, not full of a bunch of marketing BS. No pegboard lace system, no Continental rubber outsole, no Primeknit, because none of it was ever needed; Get the basics down and you have great shoe. Thank you Adidas and Dame!
Is this the best Dame ever? Yes, Iâd say so because Adidas finally got the right combo of everything especially the traction. (Finally!!) but it isnât for players who want or need more cushioning. Half a size down will work for almost everyone so buying online won’t be too risky. Even half a size long, I had no issues which is what any good fitting shoe be able to do. I also think I enjoy playing in it because it feels almost exactly like the Marquee Boost but with Bounce instead of Boost. The uppers might look different but they all really have the same function regardless of looks. If you love Dame, you’ll love this shoe.
Should you pay retail? Nope, sign up for Adidas emails or get in on the Creator Club. I got a nice 25% coupon in my email so thatâs 86 bucks right from the jump. I always see loyalty programs as a bad sign for companies but hey it saves me money at least. Like every Adidas basketball model that hypebeasts arenât chasing these will sit. $90 or under is fair, low around $50-60 per usual.
Not much else to say about the Plain Dame 5 but stay tuned for my Spawn 3, Pg3 and Why Not 2 reviews (all easy reviews and excellent options to start 2019). I’m trying my best to keep up with the releases! Thank goodness I found another good pickup night !
Nice job Adidas!
schwollo.com 
I thought the midsole was thicker than the 4s due to how it looks, really surprised that you mentioned it’s actually thinner. Now I’m really interested in how they feel underfoot considering that 4’s midsole was extremely low already.
I haven’t bought these because the upper looks like a step back to me. 4’s upper was too good to my feet fit-wise so that I just can’t take it out of my rotation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was going to measure them with a ruler but I can tell itâs really close so there wasnât really a point. The 5 feels lower and your foot site be below what you see on the outside of the shoe. I agree the 4 fit feels better than the 5 but both fit well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really looking forward to your Spawn 3 review!! Is it almost done?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. Great shoe all around
LikeLike
Would you say the Micro G is the same as the old version, or is it slightly different/firmer now?
LikeLike
Very similar slightly firmer than micro G on first spawn
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should clarify itâs barely firmer
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds super neat that they’re almost exactly the same! Does Micro G usually last longer than other foams like Boost and Bounce? And as an aside, how do you reply to comments within a reply thread? Lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
No it doesnât last any longer than Bounce or Boost since itâs just a regular foam. Itâs great and was one of the first âpremiumâ foams and still has nice feedback but pretty much everyone has a premium foam nowadays.
LikeLike
Different Ua shoes had different feels to their micro G. The Juke was a little overly soft but really confy. Shoes like the bloodline, Spawn were a little firmer than average while the cfd was was I consider regular micro g feel. The black ice was different altogether since it sat low but still had that micro g feel.
LikeLike
Oh nvm, didn’t know you could do that lol I thought it wouldn’t reply to the appropriate comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gotcha. I wasn’t too into shoes when the original Spawns came out so these are definitely interesting for me if they get to a super cheap price!
LikeLike
Oh they will get there trust me .
LikeLike
Hey man nice review, im still torn between choosing the right size for me because its longer. I have a wide foot and rocking dame 4s (size 10) and curry 2/4/6 (size 10.5), what size should i go for the dame 5? Thanks man.
LikeLike
Same as dame 4. If you can wear a 10 in those youâll be fine in a 10 in the 5
LikeLike
Thanks man. Appreciate it much. In comparison to dame 4 and dame 5 from heel to toe is there much size difference in length? Can you give me measurements of dame 4 and dame 5 shoe length? If you have them both in same size. Thanks
LikeLike
Hey josh! Had you purchased already the dame 5? Is it same sizing with dame 4? I’m having a problem too purchasing online particularly with its length, that’s why I’m asking you. Hope you could help me. By he way were both same size with regard to dame 4 and curry also. Tnx man.
LikeLike
Length is long so most will want to go down half a size. Wide footers can stay true and be ok. I went true and it was long but no issues side to side as a wide footer. Hope that helps
LikeLike
Nice review!!!
What would you say has better arch support between these and hardens?
I have flat feet too and I feel your pain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These
LikeLike
Oh Gosh….I’ve just ordered it online (had to rush because I had an expiring coupon code) in my true size only to come here 5 minutes later, scroll down to the fit section and read these 3 dreaded words: HALF SIZE DOWN (I’ve read the entire piece though LOL). I’ve been collecting bad experiences going down in my shoes lately so I’m going TTS almost exclusively (minus on the Marquee Boost when you really emphasized the need to go down which, thankfully, payed off). I know you said the Dame 5 works even going TTS but how much better do you think it should perform going down? That much better? I just imported a Puma Clyde Court in my true size (I love how it looks) and already regretted the decision. It sucks not being able to try sneakers before buying them. Please talk me out of the ledge hahaha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol youâll be fine tts but to shorten and tighten it up stick a thicker insole in it. The stock insole is crappy. FWIW it wouldnât make a difference âperformanceâ wise half a size off. Let me know how it goes !
LikeLike
Do u think I should get the harden 3 ? (Reg price online) knowing I already have the dame 5?
LikeLike
What more do you want out of your shoe? Harden doesnât do anything better. And why pay retail itâs on sale already at finishline
LikeLike
To me, I really like the Dame 4’s cause they feel really quick. The Pro Bounce seems like it has better cushioning (than Dame 4), but it seems to sacrifice speed for stability. How do the Dame 5’s compare to both? Still quick, with just enough cushioning? (My main complaint of the Dame 4’s was that they could be a little bit snug and tough to get on and off… I’ve got a wide foot… Perhaps the 5’s cure this?) Appreciate your thoughts!
LikeLike
I thought the pro bounce felt close to the Dame 2 cushioning so not really a loss of stability for me. The Dame 5 feels most similar to the 4 but slightly lower so youâll like it. The 5 also has a regular lacing set up so you can adjust it more than you could with the 4. I played In the 4 yesterday just for fun and itâs still enjoyable but the 5 does everything as well or better esp traction
LikeLike
nice review as always thank you!!
and when you sell your old shoes because i’m size 10.5-11 too lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same bro! Hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
đ
LikeLike
I’m interested in the mixed results for the cushioning review of this shoe… So just like you, a Chinese reviewer from Sneaks & Feet youtube channel found the cushioning to be not that plush… On the other hand, a Filipino youtube reviewer Markches found it to be plush… Duke4005 from weartesters also found the shoe to be reminiscent of the D Lillard 2 cushion. Do you think it has to do with the colorway? Duke4005 reviewed the YKWTII colorway.. I think this is possible because in your review of the Rose 6, one reader mentioned that his Halloween colorway had a dampened boost feel… Would it be possible if you tried other Dame 5 colorways just so you could compare?
LikeLike
Bounce is usually more consistent than Boost shoe to shoe across all lines of sneakers. These sit lower with less foam, and a super thin insole but the foam strobel helps with the bounce feel right under foot. Iâm not buying another pair since Iâm happy with how it feels. Great shoe regardless. Best bet is to try for yourself.
LikeLike
I know this has nothing to do with the Dame 4, so forgive me. I just bought the KT4. I know it’s tough to order a shoe straight from overseas. I took a gamble. The are a good shoe that fits perfectly, even though they don’t come in size 10. Would consider reviewing them and giving your thoughts?
LikeLike
Not really interested in them personally but if you like them you donât need my opinion or any other âreviewersââ thumbs up. From what Iâve seen on shoetube, it fits well, traction is great and heel cushion is very comfy with a lower firmer forefoot. Enjoy those shoes!
LikeLike
regardless of price, Dame 5 or Pro Bounce (which one do you prefer or is better with traction/fit)
LikeLike
. I think Pro bounce has better traction and fit is very similar even in a low. So pro bounce.
LikeLike
Guess that means you like the pro bounce more than dame 5.
Thanks for the reply
LikeLike
By a hair maybe. Both great
LikeLike
I just ordered these. I had the 4s but I hated the lace setup. I had a strange stab sensation from my foot to ankle because the lace was settup in a wierd spot. Dont know how to explain it but question is… Is this lacing system different than the 4s? It looks different but thought I’d ask.
Thanks
LikeLike
Yes very different. Dame 4 was a one piece upper bootie with no tongue minimal eyelets, The 5 is regular set up no gimmicks.
LikeLike
Awesome, very excited for these to come in. Tried on the harden 3s today and even though they felt like a pillow, I didnât feel the support that Iâd need in a basketball shoe. For $80 sale itâs hard to pass them up. Iâm recovering from a torn acl so Iâm trying to get all the support possible. I had the Lebron 16s but the heal slippage was insanse and the lacing was a nightmare.
LikeLike
You have the break in the Lebron xvi a little to eliminate the heel slip but yea the lacing the is a B! Dame 5 is great all around not as plush as the Harden though
LikeLike
But pretty close
LikeLike
Hi i realy appreciate your reviews, for a point guard would you recommend dame 5 or harden vol3, i know there close but is one any better than the other? Thank you
LikeLike
Not really. Boost feels better than bounce on Dame 5 but fit is a little better for me with Dame vs harden 3. Traction a little better with harden I think but not much.
LikeLike
Perfect thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
And here I thought Dame 5 bounce looks as thick as dlillard2… đŚ
I was about to pick this but then hey maybe I should check Schwollo post first. Maybe I should try dlillard2 insole in this? Man help me out haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol It sits a good bit lower which some may or may not like. A thicker insole would definitely help out with overall cushioning.
LikeLike
BTW I WAS AT AN ADIDAS OUTLET OVER THE WEEKEND AND THEY HAD 50% OFF EVERYTING SALE. DAME 5, MARQUEE BOOST, HARDEN 3, THE SPACE BOOT LOOKING SHOE WITH NO LACES (HAHAHA DONT KNOW THE NAME OF THAT SHOE), PRO VISION ETC. COULDNT FIND THE DAME 5 IN MY SIZE OTHERWISE I WOULDVE GOTTEN A PAIR FOR $57.50! THEY HAD THE BHM AND THE PEOPLES CHAMP COLORWAYS AVAILABLE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice adidas outlets either have a bunch of good stuff or a bunch of garbage. Donât worry Dames arenât going anywhere
LikeLike
Hey. Great review. I just got the Black Panther colorway and the rubber definitely feels different in grip from the Peopleâs Champ colorway. The BP colorway is IMO even better. Not sure if thereâs a different finish on the rubber, but the out-of-the-box slickness from the Peopleâs Champ is non existent on the BP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet! May just not have that polish or whatever on the bottom
LikeLike
finally got a pair and to me the heel/back part of the shoe felt weird. seems like the heel sits kinda high or the area around the heel which supports it isn’t high enough? the hard plastic pieces I guess or the heel cup seems like it doesn’t extend high enough. ive never really noticed that in any other shoe ive tried or played in. does your heel eventually sink into the bounce midsole and your heel feels more secure or am I just trippin? what was your experience with this schwollo?
LikeLike
I didnât notice it but Iâve had plenty of shoes that I have. It doesnât affect anything and you should get used to it.
LikeLike
ok seems like it would be unstable or not enough protection but i’ll give it a try
LikeLike
Itâs stable underfoot so you should be ok . I think adidas and UA are the main companies they make shorter heel counters
LikeLike
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE 33% OFF CODE AND GOT A PAIR OF THE BLACK PANTHERS
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just thought Iâd leave a comment on these shoes.
Thanks schwollo for your review, it led me to buy a pair (hard to get shoes in NZ for a decent price and not many places stock them to try on).
So I have bad ankles from skateboarding and touch rugby on uneven ground. I have a plate in one ankle.
My favourite shoes have been:
Curry 2 (with ankle braces); Curry 2.5 (without braces).
I did buy PG1âs over the Curry 5âs as I was super nervous in the stability of the 5âs. That was a bad choice in the end cos even with braces they felt unstable for me and without they were terrible- I was super paranoid on the court and didnât feel stable, like I was about to roll my ankle after a jump shot or drive.
So the Dame 5âs- Iâve played around 6 hours in them now on both dusty and newly swept courts. I LOVE the Dame 5âs- and I havenât used my ankle braces. I am super stoked, as it was an informed (thanks to schwollo) gamble. I went 1/2 a size down and they feel stable, Iâm confident doing whatever and honestly I feel they are just as good as the Curry 2.5âs on dusty courts (wiping occasionally).
Hope my comment helps someone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Live in New Zealand or get Dames on the cheap đ¤ Iâll go with NZ! Glad they worked out !
LikeLike
I bought them recently (I went half a size down) and I must say I’m a little dissapointed. My archs hurt like hell after about 10 minutes of playing so I must lace them pretty loose and that makes feet less stable. Also this metal ring for laces at the collar is pinching my ankles really hard and it’s just so painful đŚ Too bad because these shoes have great traction, good cushioning and I like the design but apparently they’re no good for me.
LikeLike
That sucks sounds like they are just not for you or try true to size if you can exchange them
LikeLike
Sorry to hear that âšď¸ I read your comment before my last run, and noticed a pinching at my ankles also. It ended up being the socks I was wearing were a bit thinner than usual. I switched back to my usual stance brand pair and didnât notice it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to give them some time to adapt but it’s not getting any better. And pinching is not the socks unfortunately, I’ve tried different ones, some thick socks I wear with Lebrons XI’s when playing indoor, some thinner ones and I see no difference. I don’t know, maybe my feet are weird or something đ
LikeLike
That sucks . Did you try mole skin on top of the area that is bothering you or bending that area on the shoe ? Are you in the 30 day adidas window if you bought it from adidas.com?
LikeLike
i have this exactly! i bought true to size and i can feel the shoe have alot of potential but when i lace tight i can pain of my life in the arch
let me know if you found any way to overcome this prob
LikeLiked by 1 person
Double sock
LikeLike
Hey Luke,
I have similar problems. Read great reviews about them but it did not work out for me. My arches feel so freaking sore after playing in them every time. I ended up with the curry 3 zero 3. I wonder what it was about the fit that caused the arch pain. I think I have a medium arch. Weird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just got these and I wish I went half a size down. There’s no heel slippage though there’s just an inch of space in the toe box, and in my right foot, the outside of my foot hurt like hel when I playedl. Hopefully, they’ll break in or else I’ll just sell them.
LikeLike
They run long as noted in my review but doesnât affect play. Odd about your foot pain but should go away unless you have something sensitive there
LikeLike
Yeah, it was this really intense pain on the outside of my right foot. Never experienced anything like it before, it still hurts right now lol. Hopefully it’ll go away as I break in the shoe more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Schwollo,
Thanks for the review – great work, as per usual.
Just have a question i was hoping you could answer: how does the fit compare to the Adidas Explosive Bounce? I got those based on your recommendation, and loved them. Like you said in your review, they did run a bit long, but I found my usual size to be ok for them. Do the Dame 5’s fit even longer than the Explosive Bounces?
Thanks in advance!
Thomas
LikeLiked by 1 person
They run longer but about the same width as the pro bounce.
LikeLike
You thought about trying the boost like insole in these for extra cushioning??? Imagine the other great features of these but with boost on top of the bounce…
LikeLike
I bought a pair of hefeluxx a few months back. Doesnât do much bc itâs too thin . Donât fall for that influencer marketing hype
LikeLike
Hi.
Can you compare size Dame 5 to D Rose 8?
My D Rose 8 are 9 1/2 (EUR 43 1/3 ) and I don’t know is it better to get Dame 5 same size or 9 (EUR 42 2/3).
Thanks in advence!
LikeLike
Depends on how wide your feet are. I tried half a size down w dame5 and length is better but tight width wise
LikeLike
Thanks, I’ll try half a size down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am also a fan of Dame 5. It’s comfort, arch support, and better foot health, Cool styling.
What’s your thought about cushioning? Overall it’s a great shoe and your review on it seems smart. Keep up the good works. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cushioning is good enough on the Dame 5. Slightly thin but still good enough
LikeLike